Objective
To evaluate the effects of laptop computers connected to local area networks wirelessly
(Wi-Fi) on human spermatozoa.
Design
Prospective in vitro study.
Setting
Center for reproductive medicine.
Patient(s)
Semen samples from 29 healthy donors.
Intervention(s)
Motile sperm were selected by swim up. Each sperm suspension was divided into two
aliquots. One sperm aliquot (experimental) from each patient was exposed to an internet-connected
laptop by Wi-Fi for 4 hours, whereas the second aliquot (unexposed) was used as control,
incubated under identical conditions without being exposed to the laptop.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Evaluation of sperm motility, viability, and DNA fragmentation.
Result(s)
Donor sperm samples, mostly normozoospermic, exposed ex vivo during 4 hours to a wireless
internet-connected laptop showed a significant decrease in progressive sperm motility
and an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Levels of dead sperm showed no significant
differences between the two groups.
Conclusion(s)
To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the direct impact of laptop
use on human spermatozoa. Ex vivo exposure of human spermatozoa to a wireless internet-connected
laptop decreased motility and induced DNA fragmentation by a nonthermal effect. We
speculate that keeping a laptop connected wirelessly to the internet on the lap near
the testes may result in decreased male fertility. Further in vitro and in vivo studies
are needed to prove this contention.
Key Words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: November 23, 2011
Accepted:
October 11,
2011
Received in revised form:
September 9,
2011
Received:
June 14,
2011
Footnotes
C.A. has nothing to disclose. A.M. has nothing to disclose. C.A.S.S. has nothing to disclose. G.F.D. has nothing to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
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- Laptop computers with Wi-Fi decrease human sperm motility and increase sperm DNA fragmentationFertility and SterilityVol. 97Issue 4
- PreviewWe read with interest the article, “Use of laptop computers connected to internet through Wi-Fi decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA fragmentation” by Avendaño et al. (1). However, we think that the evidence presented in this article cannot support the claim that the observed effects are nonthermal and caused by exposure to a Wi-Fi radiofrequency electromagnetic field.
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- Wi-Fi decreases human sperm motility and increases sperm DNA fragmentationFertility and SterilityVol. 97Issue 4
